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Requirements for laying photovoltaic panels in trenches

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In Article 690, Solar Photovoltaic Systems, single conductor cable USE-2 and PV wire are permitted to be installed in exposed locations within the array [NEC 690.31 (C) (1)]. The conductors connected directly to dc PV

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Requirements for laying photovoltaic panels in trenches [PDF]

6 FAQs about [Requirements for laying photovoltaic panels in trenches]

How deep should a cable be in a NEC-compliant trench?

There are a few ways to trench cables through this area in a NEC-compliant manner. I could go with 6” of trench depth and metal conduit, I could go with 18” of trench depth and PVC, or I could go with 24” of depth and underground feeder. Talking to electricians out here, everyone had the same advice: “Go with PVC.”

Do you need a pull line for a solar PV system?

To facilitate the wiring of the solar PV system at a later date, the builder may also want to include a pull line in the conduit, particularly if the conduit run is lengthy or has multiple bends.

Do I need to meter a photovoltaic system?

It is assumed that aluminum framed photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on a “post” and rail mounting system, the most common in the industry today, will be installed by the homeowner. While metering the system is encouraged, the specification does not address system wiring elements for associated system sensors or monitoring equipment.

How deep should a conduit trench be?

And, I’ll add that the actual wording in NEC isn’t 18” of depth - it’s 18” of cover. Big difference if you’re throwing a few pieces of 1” conduit down there. Realistically, for my 3 runs of conduit, I needed a 21-22” deep trench.

What is the minimum array area requirement for a solar PV inverter?

Although the RERH specification does not set a minimum array area requirement, builders should minimally specify an area of 50 square feet in order to operate the smallest grid-tied solar PV inverters on the market.

Can a DC PV module be installed on a commercial roof?

PV output circuits in EMT on commercial roof In Article 690, Solar Photovoltaic Systems, single conductor cable USE-2 and PV wire are permitted to be installed in exposed locations within the array [NEC 690.31 (C) (1)]. The conductors connected directly to dc PV modules are either PV cable (marked as PV cable or PV wire) or USE-2.

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